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Falls of Kirkaig from Inverkirkaig

Highland Walk

County/Area - Highland - Northern Highland

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 5.8 miles / 9.4 km    Ascent - 950 feet / 288 metres

Time - 3 hours 50 minutes    Grade - easy

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Ordnance Survey Explorer 442Sheet Map1:25kBUY
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Ordnance Survey Landranger 15Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 15Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Falls of Kirkaig
Click image to visit gallery of 3 images.

This walk provides a useful introduction to the scenery of Assynt combining a river, loch and mountain views. The start is a small car park (Grid ref. NC085193) beside the River Kirkaig a few miles south of Lochinver on the interesting narrow road that eventually joins the A837 road to Ullapool near Stac Pollaidh.

Leave the car park and take the track on the north side of the River Kirkaig and head upstream. This track soon becomes a path which follows the river into a pleasant glen with small rocky hills on both sides. The clear path climbs well above the river gaining height slowly but steadily. After just over three kilometres there is a path junction. The right-hand path leads down to the Falls of Kirkaig and this will be used later but for now continue upstream by taking the left-hand path.

After a further 800 metres a further and less distinct path junction is encountered. Take the left hand path, which climbs across a low rocky knoll to reach the shores of Fionh Loch. The typical "loch and cnoc" scenery of this area will be seen with the spectacular outline of Suilven rising steeply from this watery landscape.

After enjoying the view return the way you came turning left down the short path to the Falls of Kirkaig. Depending on your agility and nerve, you can get some spectacular views of this cascade, which after rain is truly spectacular. Retrace your steps to the path junction and turn left back to the start.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1769 Suilven (North-western approach)hard12.0 miles
Walk 1312 Achmelvich Bay and Alltanabradhaneasy3.0 miles
Walk 2529 Stac Pollaidh Circulareasy/mod2.8 miles
Walk 1017 Stac Pollaidheasy/mod3.0 miles
Walk 2274 Cul Mor from Knockan Cragmod/hard8.5 miles
Walk 1266 The Old Man of Stoer and the Point of Stoereasy4.5 miles
Walk 1317 Sail Gharbh (Quinag) from Kyleskumoderate5.4 miles
Walk 3272 Conival & Ben More Assynt from Inchnadamphhard11.0 miles
Walk 1319 The Bone Caves of Inchnadampheasy3.0 miles
Walk 1117 Glas Bheinn & Eas a' Chual Aluinn (waterfall)mod/hard8.5 miles

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